Chess Puzzle #2HALY — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2668 · Master · crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king c1; queen f4; rooks d1/h1; bishop c4; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks b8/f8; bishop f5; knight b4; pawns a7/c5/f7/g5/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg3 — queen f4→g3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxa2+ — knight b4→a2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxa2 (bishop c4→a2, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qa6 — queen f6→a6. Opponent replies Bxf7+ (bishop a2→f7, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxf7 — king g8→f7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxg5+ (knight f3→g5, captures pawn, gives check).
  5. Best move: hxg5 — pawn h6→g5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Nxa2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/p4p2/5q1p/2p2bp1/1nB2Q2/2P2N1P/PP3PP1/2KR3R w - - 0 19

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.